I have taken that trip before, but didn't know where I was. I just finished Jill Taylor Bolte's book, My Stroke of Inspiration, which provided the needed insight. I had crossed over into the right hemisphere of my brain during the final meditation of my yoga class last night. Nirvana!
The other trips were also taken during Joyce's unique Yoga Is Meditation class. So she is absolutely correct that there is a reinforcing energy from group meditation. Not that I should have doubted her, but that is my hardcore, left hemisphere, cynical self.
I can't give any directions, as directions are a left brain 'thing'. The key insight from Ms. Bolte's book is that the boundaries of your body begin to disappear when you move into the right side. My reaction was the same as Ms. Bolte's (minus the drama of being in the middle of a stroke): "COOL!" Then I noticed that the left brain's mind chatter was missing: "REALLY COOL!" It is, as promised, a place of peace and a place you want to stay. But the class came to an end and I reluctantly joined the ending ceremony. I hope to return.
Nirvana is not the same thing as the Buddha's enlightenment, which was the extinction of his ego. My ego was put in abeyance for a bit, and is back in control as I write this blog entry. I describe myself as a Presbyterian with strong Buddist tendencies, but lately I have been studying the Tao, as it seems more approachable. Getting beyond my math, engineering and physics trained left brain seemed too difficult. Wrong again! Thankfully!
My humble thanks to Joyce and her class of yoga and meditation students. And to Ms. Bolte for her breathtaking book about her stroke. Without all that support, I would have been RIGHT!
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